Friends - both in and outside Japan - often ask me how our the parties at my company. It is usually expected that Japanese companies have a lot of parties for the workers, and that we are request to attend them. This is both wrong... and correct! For the big parties - welcome, farewell, special events - people join if they feel to. When smaller parties are organised, and you are personally invited, then it is probably rude to refuse. It even happend to me that the director of the research center called me one in the evening to ask me to join on the spot a party at a karaoke...

A typical party - this is a mixture of three big ones, usually once a month - will start with a talk from the "organiser", then the director of the research center, and finally the guest of honor. With a traditional kanpai in the middle. During all that time, you have the food waiting in front of you to be eaten...

During dinner, people are going to move around and talk to each other. Usually places are assigned randomly, and therefore it is more enjoyable to reach some of the people you know the best. My coworkers usually (try to) drink a lot, and they of course enjoy people around them - including me - to drink with them!

Should you be a newcomer, it is the good time to introduce yourself. Other people will then ask you some questions, usually always the same. What are your hobbies? What is your blood type? Do you have a girlfriend?

To gain in efficiency, it is sometimes even not request to go to karaoke after the dinner. A karaoke can even be available in the room!

Another tradition...

Absolutely nobody will take his car after the party. Everything is organised, and a bus will bring the employees back to the train station. When they saw me riding my bicycle, they were shocked! It seems that if you get caught drunk on a bicycle (!), policemen can withdraw your driving license.